It’s a big news week! Myke and Jason break down Tim Cook’s podcast interview with Kara Swisher, and discuss some big changes at Apple Arcade. There’s also WWDC 2021 and Apple’s rumored augmented-reality headset to talk about. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Memberful : Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required. Pingdom : Start monitoring your website performance and availability today...
Apr 05, 2021•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 346
Myke and Jason celebrate 20 years of OS X by discussing how we use our Macs today and whether the arrival of Apple silicon is changing how we work, not just today but over the rest of this year. We also discuss whether Apple should do "events" anymore, big news in the conflict between streaming and theatrical movies, and the possibility of a more rugged Apple Watch. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: DoorDash : Get 25% off and zero delivery fees on your first order of $15 or more. Ooni Piz...
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 345
This week we consider the future of the iPad Pro, watch as the 21.5-inch iMac begins to fade away, and ponder what the HomePod mini means for Apple's overall home strategy. Myke gets recommendations for soundbars, and Jason explains the NFL's new TV deals. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. LinkedIn Jobs : Post a job for free by visiting this link. Literati Kids : Five books, deliver...
Mar 22, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 344
Myke's on a quest for new TV speakers as we ponder the misfire of Apple's high-end speaker and the potential fate of Apple's high-end headphones. Jason runs with his Apple Watch, and more apps go native on Apple Silicon. Thanks for following Upgrade! This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. DEVONthink : Get Organized — Unleash Your Creativity. Use this link for 10% off. Spox : The best story wins. Get 25...
Mar 15, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 343
This week we ponder the future of WWDC, say goodbye to the iMac Pro, investigate a new iPad stand, and wonder about the misplaced priorities of the Paramount+ roll-out. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Fitbod : The fitness app for personalized exercise plans. Get 25% off your membership. Hover : Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name. Ooni Pizza Ovens : Bring the world’s best pizza to your own backyard. Use the code UPGRADE21 for 10% off. Links and Show Notes: Get Upgrade+...
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 342
This week we grapple with rumors of colorful new Macs and additional ports on MacBook Pro models, note the arrival of Paramount+ to the Streaming Wars, debate the merits of Twitter's attempt to actually do something resembling anything, and wonder if Apple's content to run the only music service without a high-quality tier. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: TextExpander, from Smile : Work smarter, not harder. Get 20% off your first year. Bombas : Give a pair when you buy a pair, and get 2...
Mar 01, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 341
New iPad keyboards make us notice the magic of the Magic Trackpad, AirPods might be getting an unwelcome makeover, and the butterfly keyboard isn't really gone as long as we remember it. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. LinkedIn Jobs : Post a job for free by visiting this link. Literati Kids : Five books, delivered monthly. Click here for 25% off your first two orders. Links and Sh...
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 340
Disney+ keeps growing and its original content is flowing, and Apple TV+ brings new marketing muscle to bear for the second-season launch of "For All Mankind." And what can Apple do to make its Apple TV hardware more appealing? Sit down with a cup of tea and join us. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. HelloFresh : Click this link and use code upgrade10 for 10 free meals, including free shipping! Sp...
Feb 15, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 339
Change is coming for us whether we like it or not. This week we ponder the possibility of an augmented-reality future, and mourn the loss of a piece of software we’ve used for every single episode of Upgrade (until now). This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Fitbod : The fitness app for personalized exercise plans. Get 25% off your membership. Hover : Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name. DoorDash : Get 25% off and zero delivery fees on your first order of $15 or more. Links ...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 338
It's now February 2021, but before we turn the page entirely it's time to look back one last time at 2020. Apple had a record holiday quarter with growth across the board, and Apple watchers filled out the annual Six Colors Apple Report Card. Spoiler: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: PDFpen, from Smile : The all-purpose PDF editor for Mac, iPad & iPhone. Bombas : Give a pair when you buy a pair, and get 20% off your first purchase ...
Feb 01, 2021•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 337
Is Apple really going to release a high-end VR headset, and if so, why? Is the MacBook Air getting smaller again? Are you ready for Dolly Parton to tell you a story while you take a walk? And we discuss why movies and sports are becoming ever more important to streaming-media outlets. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Fitbod : The fitness app for personalized exercise plans. Get 25% off your membership. AirBuddy : Experience AirPods on your Mac like never before. First 100 Upgrade listene...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 336
If reports are to be believed, 2021 is shaping up to be a year where the Mac takes two steps forward--but only after taking one step back. We analyze the rumors of new MacBook Pros, iMacs, and Mac Pros. A new Apple display? The death of the Touch Bar? Magsafe returns to the Mac? Is it 2015 again or are we just dreaming? This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Hover : Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name. DEVONthink : Get Organized — Unleash Your Creativity. Use this link for 10...
Jan 18, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 335
It's January and the avalanche of 2021 Apple product rumors has already begun. But we also take time to reflect about the first decade of the Mac App Store, have a difficult discussion about when tech companies should deplatform those planning political violence, and Jason exchanges helpful messages about buying late-model Intel Macs with someone who is a friend, a fish, or both. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra th...
Jan 11, 2021•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 334
2021 has arrived, so it's time for Jason to predict what he thinks Apple will do this year. But it's also time for Myke to look back on his 2020 predictions and judge how well those came out. Also, DC joins Marvel in amplifying streaming-service programming plans. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. TextExpander, from Smile : Recall your best words. Instantly, repeatedly. Get 20% off ...
Jan 04, 2021•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 333
As the year comes to an end, it's time for the Seventh Annual Upgradies! Myke and Jason discuss their favorites of 2020, take the input of many Upgradians, and hand out awards in numerous categories! Only the finest will walk away with the most coveted of titles: Upgradies Winner. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: DoorDash : Dinner from your favorite restaurant delivered to your door. Get $5 off your first order. Pingdom : Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, ...
Dec 28, 2020•2 hr 34 min•Ep. 332
It's the Upgrade Holiday Special! But first, Myke reviews the AirPods Pro Max and Jason reviews Apple Fitness+. Then we get into the spirit of the season with a holiday-themed #askupgrade, and Myke watches "A Charlie Brown Christmas" for the very first time! This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. TextExpander, from Smile : Recall your best words. Instantly, repeatedly. Get 20% off your f...
Dec 21, 2020•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 331
There's a lot of streaming-media news this week, as Warner Media faces intense criticism of its decision to move all its 2021 film releases to HBO Max, Apple faces criticism for killing a show based on Gawker, and Disney fires off its Death Star, unveiling a slate of originals that are likely to take Disney+ to the next level. Oh, and Apple announced a $550 pair of headphones! This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three...
Dec 14, 2020•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 330
Warner Media is moving all its 2021 releases to HBO Max, but what will that mean for the future of the movie industry? Will streaming reign supreme, or is there a future for movie theaters? Meanwhile, a new Bloomberg report gives some shape to the future of Apple's M-series processors--it turns out the M stands for "more cores." This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: DoorDash : Dinner from your favorite restaurant delivered to your door. Get $5 off your first order. KiwiCo : STEM, STEAM & ...
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 329
This week Jason embraces the iPhone 12 mini and then reboots his complaints about Apple's focus on Mac security leading to bad user-experience issues. Then we consider the future, as we interpret early reports about new Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook Pro models for 2021. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Pingdom : Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code UPGRADE to get 30% off...
Nov 30, 2020•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 328
Myke and Jason have spent a week running Big Sur on M1 Macs and are here to report back on what the future feels like. Also, HBO Max gives up and plans a streaming release of "Wonder Woman 1984" so everyone but Myke can see it, and Apple pulls a PR move that gives a raise to small developers while enraging its loudest critics. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Sanebox : Clean up your inbox in minu...
Nov 23, 2020•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 327
In this special, extra-packed episode we've got an interview with Apple's Tim Millet and Tom Boger about Apple's new M1 Macs, followed by Jason's review of the new Macs after spending nearly a week with all three models. Plus, Myke and Jason review the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini! This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: DoorDash : Dinner from your favorite restaurant delivered to your door. Get $5 off your first order. Pingdom : Start monitoring your website performance and availabilit...
Nov 17, 2020•2 hr 19 min•Ep. 326
Three new Macs have arrived, and they've brought the Apple-designed M1 processor with them. Myke and Jason break down the new chip, the new hardware, and what it all means for the future of the Mac. And did they both buy new Macs after the event ended, or did they resist temptation? This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: PDFpen, from Smile : Powerful PDF Editing On Your Mac. Pingdom : Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs...
Nov 11, 2020•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 325
Surprise! Jason and Myke predict what will happen at next week's Apple media event, in the form of an impromptu draft. There's a lot of speculation about Apple silicon, but we've thrown in a few wacky picks just to keep things interesting. Also, Apple TV+ snags Jon Stewart, "Ted Lasso" is a word-of-mouth hit, and the Mac has its best quarter of sales in its 36-year history. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10%...
Nov 02, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 324
New Apple hardware season is in full swing! We review the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and fourth-generation iPad Air. Myke and Jason find themselves drawn to different models for aesthetic reasons. And in Upstream, we discuss why James Bond is probably not coming soon to a streaming service near you. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Hover : Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name. DoorDash : Dinner from your favorite restaurant delivered to your door. Get $5 off your first or...
Oct 26, 2020•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 323
This week we're picking up the pieces on last week's October Apple event. What have we learned about the HomePod and iPhone 12? There's a lot to unpack here. And in other news, Apple has decided that 2020 is the right time to become MTV. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: TextExpander, from Smile : Take back your time with the power of TextExpander. Get 20% off with your first year. ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Pingdom : Start...
Oct 19, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 322
Jason and Myke break down Apple's iPhone 12 and HomePod mini launch event. Having four new iPhones with different pricing structures and camera options is a bit overwhelming, but they do their best to process it all and provide initial reactions. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Teamistry : The stories of unsung teams who pioneered new ways of working to achieve the unexpected. Listen now. Bombas : Super comfortable socks for you and someone in need. Use this link for 20% off. Mailroute ...
Oct 13, 2020•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 321
Bonus episode! Jason and Myke interview Apple's Tim Millet and Tom Boger about the new iPad Air and Apple silicon. Afterward, it's time to fearlessly predict what will happen at Tuesday's Apple media event in the only way Upgrade knows how--via a competitive draft. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Hover : Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name. Hullo : A simple, natural pillow designed for comfort. Try it for 60 days. Guest Starring: Tom Boger and Tim Millet Links and Show...
Oct 10, 2020•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 320
It's all about what's next at Apple this week, as we discuss the ramifications of some early A14 speed tests and ponder the challenges of succession planning at Apple. And what's next for us is an interview with two Apple executives, so it's time to get in your #askupgrade questions. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. KiwiCo : STEM, STEAM & Science Kits for Kids. Sanebox : Clean ...
Oct 05, 2020•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 319
This week widget mania sweeps the nation, Jason goes to an Apple Store to buy a Solo Loop, and Tim Cook ponders Apple's work-from-home culture. This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by: Pingdom : Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code UPGRADE to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021, and can be used only once. eero : The WiFi every home deserves. Get your eero delivered wit...
Sep 28, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 318
Has Apple set off an iPhone home screen aesthetics revolution with iOS 14? We talk about our favorite widgets, Widgetsmith's journey to the top of the App Store charts, home-screen customization, and what this might mean for Apple's iOS feature priorities. Also, Myke evaluates new watchOS faces, Jason seeks home remedies to fix his terrible Apple Watch battery life, and we both speculate about whether Apple might sneak a Touch ID sensor into the iPhone 12 after all. This episode of Upgrade is sp...
Sep 21, 2020•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 317
